FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS: “TOGETHER IN THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN” – May 2026, Hotel “Novella Uno,” Novi Banovci, Belgrade
How did the First International Congress “Together in the Protection of Children” address child trafficking, missing newborn cases, institutional silence, and the international right to identity?
By Bojan Jovanović
At a time when truth, justice, and human dignity are often suppressed by the interests of powerful systems, the holding of the First International Congress “Together in the Protection of Children” represents a historic act of resistance against silence, injustice, and decades-long concealment of the fate of missing newborns.
Organized by the Union of Christians of Croatia and the Association of Parents of Missing Babies of Vojvodina, the congress gathered parents, lawyers, doctors, international experts, human rights activists, and participants from the region and the world, with one shared goal — the protection of children and the right of every individual to know the truth about their origin.
The congress theme, “Abduction of Newborns After Birth (EPDIA): Children Born to Disappear,” opened one of the most difficult and disturbing issues of modern society: systemic child trafficking concealed through administrative mechanisms, institutional silence, and abuse of the law.
The congress strongly emphasized that the issue of missing babies is not a series of isolated tragedies, but an international problem requiring a supranational response, international legal cooperation, and the establishment of permanent mechanisms to uncover the truth and restore identity to victims.
Particular weight was given by testimonies of parents and adults searching for their identity — living proof that truth has not disappeared despite decades of silence. Their accounts showed that administrative documents can be falsified, but the human need for truth cannot be extinguished.
Key topics addressed during the congress included:
institutional responsibility of states,
abuse of international legal mechanisms and the Hague Convention,
media suppression of truth,
ethical and moral responsibility of society,
the role of the Church and religious communities in protecting fundamental human rights,
and the need to create an international DNA database and investigative body.
A significant historical moment was the official launch of the international organization FIND, envisioned as a supranational mechanism for child protection, the search for the missing, and the restoration of stolen identities. Its vision is to connect experts, institutions, and families across countries into a unified network of truth, justice, and humanity.
The congress delivered a clear message: the right of a child to know their origin is not a privilege — it is a fundamental human right.
However, a shadow was cast over this major international gathering by the fact that a member of the scientific-technical team of the Union of Christians of Croatia and representative of Montenegro, academic Sreten Vujović, was not welcome in Serbia. This raised additional questions about freedom of action, international cooperation, and the willingness of institutions to confront issues that have provoked discomfort and resistance for decades.
“Although duly invited as a delegate from Montenegro and a member of the scientific-theological board of the Union of Christians of Croatia to participate in the First International Congress ‘Together in the Protection of Children’ in Novi Banovci, I had to withdraw for security reasons…
[Condensed for clarity:]
Vujović describes receiving a suspicious phone call allegedly from Serbian police about a suitcase bearing his name. He found inconsistencies suggesting possible fabrication or intimidation, raising concerns that evidence could be planted to justify arrest. He recounts a past incident in which authorities falsely accused him of drug trafficking and attempted to break into his apartment. He concludes that the suitcase incident was likely part of a similar intimidation tactic and notes hearing of other cases of pressure against participants.
Despite risks, he states he was prepared to attend to honor victims of crimes, including child trafficking and exploitation, and the parents of missing babies.
— Academic Sreten Vujović
Despite all pressures, the congress demonstrated that the struggle for truth can no longer be stopped. The walls of silence are beginning to crack under the strength of parents, science, international cooperation, and the moral responsibility of those who refuse to accept that children can disappear without a trace or answers.
By adopting the final Resolution on the Protection of Children and the Right to Truth about Missing Babies, participants sent a clear message to the world:
No child must be erased from history.
No family must be condemned to eternal silence.
Truth has no expiration date.
— Bojan Jovanović
Bojan Jovanović is a former priest of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the current Secretary General of the Christian Alliance of Croatia, a faith-based advocacy organization focused on social justice, children’s rights, and religious reform. He has become known in regional Balkan media for outspoken criticism of alleged institutional abuse, corruption, and cover-ups within church structures, particularly concerning clergy misconduct and child protection. Jovanović has also promoted interdenominational cooperation and public campaigns emphasizing transparency, moral accountability, and human rights advocacy.
Photo by Leo Igwe